diff --git a/ci/release/template/README.md.sh b/ci/release/template/README.md.sh
index d52d96716..7ccea6fb2 100755
--- a/ci/release/template/README.md.sh
+++ b/ci/release/template/README.md.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ set -eu
 cd -- "$(dirname "$0")/../../.."
 . ./ci/sub/lib.sh
 
+ensure_os
+ensure_arch
 cat <<EOF
 # d2
 
@@ -15,15 +17,14 @@ arch: $ARCH
 Built with $(go version | grep -o 'go[^ ]\+').
 EOF
 
-ensure_os
 if [ "$OS" = windows ]; then
   cat <<EOF
 
 We currently do not have an \`.msi\` for automatic installation on Windows so this release
 is structured the same as our Unix releases.
 
-Easiest way to use d2 on Windows is to just \`chdir\` into the bin directory of this release
-and invoke d2 like \`./d2 <full-input-file-path>\`
+Easiest way to use \`d2\` on Windows is to just \`chdir\` into the bin directory of this release
+and invoke \`d2\` like \`./d2 <full-input-file-path>\`
 
 For installation you'll have to add the \`./bin/d2.exe\` binary to your \`\$PATH\`. Or add
 the \`./bin\` directory of this release to your \`\$PATH\`.
@@ -32,12 +33,12 @@ See https://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-PATH-Environment-Variable-on-Windows
 
 Then you'll be able to call \`d2\` from the commandline in \`cmd.exe\` or \`pwsh.exe\`.
 
-We intend to have a \`.msi\` release installer sometime soon that handles putting \`d2\` into
+We intend to have a \`.msi\` release installer sometime soon that handles putting \`d2.exe\` into
 your \`\$PATH\` for you.
 
 You can also use \`make install\` to install on Windows after first installing
 [MSYS2](https://www.msys2.org/) which emulates a Linux shell for Windows. Its terminal
-also enables d2 to show colors in its output. The manpage will also become accessible
+also enables \`d2\` to show colors in its output. The manpage will also become accessible
 with \`man d2\`.
 
 See https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/blob/master/docs/INSTALL.md#windows